entente

noun

en·​tente än-ˈtänt How to pronounce entente (audio)
1
: an international understanding providing for a common course of action
2
[French entente cordiale] : a coalition of parties to an entente

Examples of entente in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Rather than an entente between rivals, the format became gladiatorial. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023 Defense ties are central to the entente between India and Israel. Vaibhav Vats, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2023 In addition to strengthening his grip on power, Erdogan’s entente with Putin has already had significant consequences for both Russia and the West. Soner Cagaptay, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2023 As Beijing works to manage the entente with Russian President Vladimir Putin while preventing a collapse in its relationship with the West, underpinning the disquiet is the plunge in economic growth to 4% in the fourth quarter from 18.3% at the beginning of 2021. Lingling Wei, WSJ, 15 Mar. 2022 In recent days, the signs of regional entente have been getting clearer. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Apr. 2023 As China proceeds with an aggressive and ambitious military buildup, as North Korea’s nuclear arsenal relentlessly grows and as the Sino-Russian entente deepens, the U.S. can’t afford to treat East Asia as a secondary theater. Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, 31 Oct. 2022 Wanamaker, as the precisely coiffed Jean, toils to keep the entente between father and son, meanwhile cloaking her financial success to avoid emasculating her husband. Vulture, 9 Feb. 2023 The deepening entente between Iran and Russia would make the president’s options even less palatable because Moscow could choose to help Tehran respond to an Israeli or American strike. William A. Galston, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'entente.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French, intent, understanding — more at intent entry 1

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of entente was in 1854

Dictionary Entries Near entente

Cite this Entry

“Entente.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entente. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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